Outrage as rock star let off BA air rage charges

April 7 2002

British Airways faces civil damages claims from cabin staff after R.E.M. rock band guitarist Peter Buck was cleared of air rage charges, even though he did not deny ransacking the first-class cabin of a jumbo jet.

Buck, 45, insisted the combined effects of a pre-take-off sleeping pill and 15 glasses of red wine left him with no recollection of "loutish behaviour" on a flight from Seattle to Heathrow.

He had been accused of trying to throttle a senior purser with his tie and grabbing a stewardess so fiercely that her wrist was bruised in two places. Another hostess said she was "scared to death" when the musician overturned a breakfast trolley.

The verdicts provoked outrage from airline unions, which also criticised BA for saying it would welcome Buck back as a passenger.

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Christopher Darke, of the pilots' union, Balpa, said the verdict could be seen to send out all the wrong signals. "It may be good news for Peter Buck," he said. "It's very bad news for airlines, their employees and passengers."

Amicus, the two cabin crew members' union, is examining the possibility of legal action against either BA, for exposing the staff to risk, or the ground crew at Seattle for allowing the musician on to the aircraft. Apart from denying

the assaults, Buck also denied other charges of being drunk on an aircraft and damaging BAproperty.

A jury at Isleworth Crown Court, near Heathrow, where others convicted of air rage offences have been given prison sentences of up to four years, accepted his explanation that he was not truly responsible for his actions.

After the verdict Buck told reporters to "stay cool". He spoke of his relief at being cleared and said he would return to the US on a BA flight.

During the trial, Buck sat impassively as evidence was presented by the crew of how he ordered 15 glasses of red wine in the first three hours of the 10-hour flight. After repeatedly spilling his drinks and staggering to the lavatory, he went to the galley and helped himself to wine after the purser ignored his demands for more.

When the captain handed him a "yellow card" written warning, Buck tore it up and dropped the pieces on the floor, saying: "You are just a captain and I am R.E.M."